Sentinel digs for victory to beat downturn

Published by Steve Murphy for Sentinel Housing Association Ltd in Housing and also in Communities, Environment

RESIDENTS in Hartley Wintney will soon be munching on their own fresh organic vegetables after a new tenant allotment was built this week. 

Staff from Sentinel Housing Association pulled on their wellies to turn an under-used communal area in the Hampshire village into a vegetable garden, to help residents beat the recent food hikes.

Residents of a block of flats at the Becketts called in Sentinel for help, so the landlord sent a Community Impact Team of 20 staff to build raised beds, and plant cabbages, tomatoes, and salad all in a single day.

Project Manager Anne Morley said: Ive been growing on cabbages and other veg at home, for an instant transformation of a neglected corner of this development. Some residents joined in, and for us, it was a chance to get out into the community to make a genuine positive impact.

The garden makeover was one of six ambitious community projects delivered by Sentinel staff across north Hampshire all on the same day, including painting a village hall, running a ballroom tea dance, landscaping scrubland, and running a family fun day.

The Community Impact Day was organised instead of a staff conference, after staff said they'd rather help out  in local neighbourhoods than listen to motivational speeches or the chief executives review.

For more information, contact steve.murphy@sentinelha.org.uk